Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 133 Uncanny Valley (11)
"Anyway, you can go tonight, it will help you understand our strength in this area. I'll make an announcement later, and then," he glanced at his agenda, "one or two more things. First, I'm going to ask the Treasurer to report on our bank balance. A pension needs to be paid to Jim Carnaway's widow. He was killed working for the chapter and we don't want his wife left alone."

"Jim was shot last month when he went to kill Chester Wilcox of Malley Creek," the man next to McMurdo told him.

"Deposits are ample at the moment," said the treasurer, spreading the ledger in front of his face. "Some companies have been very generous lately. Max Linde paid five hundred dollars and asked us not to disturb them. Volker Brothers sent a hundred dollars." Come on, but I'm calling the shots and sent them back five hundred dollars. If they don't hear back by Wednesday, there's something wrong with their windlass drive. We burned their coal crusher last year, so they're more obedient Get up. The West End Coal has paid their end-of-year sponsorship. We have enough money to cover all necessary expenses."

"And what about Archie Swindon?" asked a brother.

"He sold his property and left the area. The old guy left us a note saying he'd rather go to New York and be a freelance scavenger than be a big deal in the power of our racketeering gang." Miner. Damn it! He ran away before this note fell into our hands! I don't think he dares to appear in this valley again."

"Who bought the property of this ignorant old fellow, Mr. Treasurer?" A man with a benevolent and handsome face stood up from the opposite side of the chief's seat and asked.

"Oh, Brother Morris, the Merton County Railroad bought it."

"Also, last year, Taoman Mine and Li's Mine were also sold under similar circumstances. Who bought them?"

"Same company, Brother Morris."

"And who bought the recently sold Mason's, Schumann, Vander, and Atwood?"

"It's all bought by West Gilmorton General Mining Company."

"I said, Brother Morris," the president said, "what does it matter to us who buys it? Whether he can move the mine away."

"The chairman, from a certain point of view, has a lot to do with us. This has been the case for more than ten years. What happened after we squeezed out some small companies? Some similar big companies took them over, and their The boards are in New York or Philly, so they don't care about our threats. We can get rid of their leaders here, but they'll bring in new ones, and end up putting ourselves in danger. Small companies, no problem. They are weak, and as long as they have room to survive, they will listen to us obediently. But big companies are different. Once they find that our existence is detrimental to their interests, they may fight against us at all costs, and even hold us arraigned. Take it according to the law."

This unpleasant remark made the meeting hall suddenly quiet, every face was ugly, and they exchanged gloomy glances at each other.This group of people are used to doing whatever they want without thinking about the consequences, and what Morris said undoubtedly shocked this group of fearless guys into a cold sweat.

"I don't think," Morris went on, "you should be too hard on the little ones, or once they're all wiped out, the place will fall apart."

Good advice always hurts.As the speaker finished and sat down, someone began to shout angrily, and McGinty frowned.

"Brother Morris," he said, "why do you always try to be ambitious? Don't worry, as long as we are united, no one will dare to touch us wherever we go. Huh, haven't we learned how the courts work?" Matter? I think companies, big or small, will sooner or later find that it's much easier to pay for disaster relief than to fight. Now, guys," McGinty said, taking off his black velvet hat and scarf, "meeting tonight That's it, there is still a small thing before the meeting ends, but brothers can go to have a drink or two to relax."

Human nature is really hard to understand, especially in this group of members.They are ferocious and brutal in normal times, killing one or the other at every turn. They have caused the destruction of countless families but never felt compassion. But at this moment, some soft or sad music made them cry.McMurdo had a natural tenor voice, and if he had not won the goodwill of all his brothers at the meeting before, after his perfect singing of "Mary, I Sit on the Hedge" and "On the Bank of Ellen" , no one will ever be stingy with praise.

In this way, on the first night of membership, McMurdo quickly became the most popular among the brothers, and his promotion to a senior member was just around the corner.Of course, in addition to being popular, to become a truly respected member requires seniority, or performance.That night, before the meeting adjourned, he had actually become the core of everyone's praise.The whiskey bottles were passed round after round, and when the chairman stood up to speak again, most of the people were already flushed and drunk.

"Boys," said he, "there's a man in this town who needs fixing, and you must get it done, and that man is James Stanger of the Herald. You should know how he speaks against us. right?"

There was a burst of approving discussions from below, and some were even yelling and cursing in a low voice.McGinty took a newspaper from his coat pocket.The above article is titled:

Law and order!
"That's his title."

The Age of Terror in the Coal and Iron Mines

It had been at least twelve years since the first murders were committed and the existence of organized crime in the district was confirmed.In the meantime, similar crimes continued and became more and more serious.Civilization was trampled on and dignity was insulted.Is this the reason why our motherland welcomes foreigners who come here to escape the authoritarian regimes in Europe?Is this how these people repay with violence those benefactors who provide them with food and clothing?Shall we tolerate a society of terror and lawlessness under the star-spangled banner of divine liberty?Even if they already exist, do we just let the fear in our hearts spread without doing anything?We know who these people are, and we know they are not invincible.How much longer shall we suffer?Are we going to live forever in the...

"Hmph, I've had enough of this kind of bullshit!" The president cursed loudly and threw the newspaper on the table. "This is his blatant provocation to us. Now the question is, how should we repay him?"

"Kill him!" cried many angry voices.

"I object," Morris, who had spoken before, continued, "Brothers, let me say a few more words. We have used too many extreme measures in this valley, which will inevitably arouse public anger and even unite against us. James Stanger is an old gentleman, he is well respected in this district, and his speech has great influence in the local area. If he is killed, it will inevitably lead to big trouble, and if it is not done, it will bring disaster to us. .”

"I say 'Mr. Hump', how are they going to kill us?" cried McGinty. "Police? Well, half of them take our money, and the other half are already scared to death .Or by the courts, judges? Haven't we already tried? How did it work?"

"Judge Lynch will probably take up these kinds of cases," Morris replied.

This sentence immediately aroused loud shouts and angry reprimands from the crowd.

"Then I'll have to deal with him," said McGinty. "I could send two hundred men into this town and clean it up from top to bottom." Then suddenly he raised his bushy eyebrows and raised his voice. "Listen, Brother Morris, I've had your eye on you for a while! You're a sucker, and you're making others lose it. When your own name is on the agenda, you're going to have to run around. Already. I think I'll have to do that soon."

Morris' face turned pale, and his knees gave way and he fell into the chair.He picked up the wine glass with trembling hands, and after taking a sip of the wine, he reluctantly replied: "Master, if I said anything inappropriate, I apologize to you and all the brothers now. I have always been loyal-you all I know—I’m just afraid that the organization will be disadvantaged, so I am eager to remind you. But, Mr. President, I believe that you are even more than myself, and I swear that I will never betray you.”

McGinty frowned when he saw him begging for mercy. "Very well, Brother Morris. In fact, I'm the one who should be sorry if I have to teach you a lesson. But as long as I'm president, words and deeds must be practiced here. Well, brothers," he glanced at the crowd. Circle, and continued, "That's all I have to say. If Stanger is really punished thoroughly, then we will definitely be in some trouble. Those media people are all out of one nostril. At that time, maybe newspapers across the country will urgently call on the police and the army to take action. Action. But Brother Baldwin, you'll give him a good warning, won't you?"

"Of course!" replied the young man eagerly.

"How many people do you need?"

"Six, two guards at the gate. David, you, and you, Mansell, and you, Scanlon. And two Brother Willaby."

"I see our new brethren could be a part of the action," McGinty said.

Ted Baldwin glanced at McMurdo, the old hatred still in his eyes. "Well, he can come if he wants to!" He said coldly, "That's it. The sooner everyone takes action, the better."

The crowd dispersed in response, with intermittent drunken talk among them.There are still many people who are still reluctant to leave, so the bar is still very crowded.A group of people who received the task deliberately came to the street in twos and threes, so as not to attract the attention of others.In the cool night, a cold moon shone silver in the icy starry sky.This group of people gathered in the open space opposite a tall building one after another. "Vermissa Herald"—Golden letters hung between the well-lit windows, and from inside came the clang and roar of the printing presses.

"Hey, you," said Baldwin to McMurdo, "watch out for us, Arthur Willaby with you, and the others with me. Don't be afraid, brethren, there are at least a dozen witnesses who can Witness we're partying in the club bar right now."

It was nearly midnight, and the street was almost deserted except for one or two late-nighters passing by occasionally.The door of the newspaper across the street was pushed open by a crowd, and Baldwin and his brother rushed in, while McMurdo remained below with another.There were screams for help from the upstairs room, followed by chaotic kicks and the overturning of tables and chairs.Immediately afterwards, a gray-haired old man staggered out of the building.

Before he could take a few steps, the old man was picked up by someone.His spectacles rolled down to McMurdo's feet with a thud, and the man was thrown face down with a groan of pain and a rain of clubs.His slender body twisted and twitched painfully under the stick, and finally, the others stopped.However, Baldwin still kicked at his head, which he was trying to protect with his hands, with a smirk, and blood suddenly gushed out of his white hair.Still relentless, Baldwin bent down and beat him hard until McMurdo stepped forward and pushed him away.

"You'll kill him," he said. "Stop!"

Baldwin stared at him incredulously, "Fuck you!" He yelled, "Who are you to interfere? Just because you're a new recruit? Get out of here!" While talking, he raised his stick and McMurdo drew his gun from his back pocket.

"It's you who wants to get out!" he shouted, "If you move, I'll blow your head off. As for the branch, the leader said not to kill him. If you play like this, it's no wonder he doesn't die! "

"He's right," someone chimed in.

"Boss! We'd better leave quickly!" Another person watching the wind shouted, "All the lights in the nearby block are on, and the whole town will probably be here in five minutes." There were indeed voices on the street, A group of newspaper staff and printers had begun to gather in the corridor, but they dared not take action.The thugs hurriedly threw the motionless old editor on the steps, quickly disappeared down the street, and returned to the lair of the branch.Some of them immediately sneaked into McGinty's bar and quietly reported to the boss that the mission was successfully completed; others, including McMurdo, disappeared into the alleys and returned home in pieces.uncanny valley
The next morning McMurdo awoke feeling dizzy.Not only did I drink too much alcohol, but the burn on my arm was also swollen unbearably and aching.Since there is a special source of income, there is no need to be too obsessed with work.He ate breakfast very late, and the rest of the time he simply stayed at home and wrote a long letter to a friend. Then he looked through the "Herald", and saw a column published in it:
Mob Assault Herald - Writer Seriously Injured

It was a brief report, and McMurdo knew better than the reporter.The report concluded:

The case has now been handed over to the police station, but it is difficult to expect satisfactory results from previous similar cases.Several of the thugs are already known, so we strongly appeal to the authorities to deal with them severely.It goes without saying that the source of the atrocities must have been an open secret.The gang is notorious, and the fish and meat have been on the side for many years, and this newspaper has launched many indomitable struggles with it.Many friends of the victim himself and a large number of people are looking forward to the case being resolved.Fortunately, although he was brutally beaten and seriously injured on the head, his life was not in danger.

The report also mentioned that the newspaper office is currently guarded by a coal and iron police team equipped with Winchester rifles.

McMurdo put down the newspaper and lit his pipe, which quivered slightly from the pain in his arm.Suddenly someone knocked on the door, and the landlady quickly sent a note saying it was from a child.The letter was unsigned and read:

I have something important to talk to you about, but it is inconvenient to bother you at your house.Please meet at the Miller Hill flagpole.Rumeng comes here now and tells you immediately.

McMurdo read it twice in astonishment, unable to imagine who the writer was or what his purpose was.If it is written by a woman, it seems that another romantic adventure is about to begin, which is not unfamiliar to him in the past; but if it is written by a man, it is a sign that this person seems to have been well educated educate.After hesitating for a moment, he finally decided to check it out.

Miller Hill, a deserted park in the center of town, is a summer recreation spot, but is wildly deserted in winter.Looking down from the top of the mountain, you can not only have a panoramic view of the town, but also the valley that has been winding down.On both sides of the valley are mines and factories in a mess, surrounded by patches of snow that has long been polluted.Only the forested slopes and snow-capped peaks in the distance can still give people a kind of beauty.

Along the winding path among the evergreens, McMurdo came to a deserted restaurant, which should be very busy in summer, and seemed to be an entertainment center.Sure enough, there was a bare flagpole nearby, and there was already a man standing under it, with his coat collar turned up and his hat pulled down.As the man turned his head, McMurdo recognized at once that it was Brother Morris, the man who had pissed off McGinty last night.When the two met, they quickly exchanged code words in the meeting.

"I want to have a word with you, Mr. McMurdo," Morris said hesitantly, "thank you for your honor."

"Why are you writing anonymously?"

"Caution is the only thing these days, sir. Who knows when trouble will come, and who knows who can be trusted and who can't be trusted."

"The brothers in the meeting are naturally trustworthy."

"No, no, not necessarily," Morris exclaimed emotionally, "what we say and even think seems to reach McGinty."

"Hello!" snapped McMurdo. "You know, I took an oath of loyalty to the Master just last night. You don't mean to make me break my oath?"

"If you think about it," Morris said sadly, "I can only say, I'm sorry to make your trip useless. Isn't it too sad that two free citizens can't talk to each other!"

McMurdo observed the other party cautiously, and later relieved a little of his worries, and said: "Of course, I also want to protect myself. You know, I am a newcomer, and I am very unfamiliar with everything here. Actually, I didn't speak at all. Right, Mr. Morris. But if you have something to say, I'll be all ears."

"Then report to Chief McGinty!" Morris said bitterly.

"Then you underestimate me," cried McMurdo. "Although I am loyal to the Order, let me tell you, I would be a scumbag if I told anyone else what you have told me. .I warn you, however, that you cannot expect my help or sympathy."

"I don't expect that," said Maurice. "I've given you my life by telling you that. But, though you're not a good fellow--I even thought last night that you'd change." Worse, but you're still a novice after all, and you're not as hard-hearted as they are, which is why I wanted to talk to you."

"Okay, so what do you want to say?"

"If you betray me, you will definitely suffer retribution!"

"Of course, as I said, I will never betray you."

"Then, let me ask you, when you joined the Freedmen's Association in Chicago and swore to be loyal and fraternal, did you ever think that it would lead you to the abyss of crime?"

"If you call that a crime," replied McMurdo.

"Call it a crime?" cried Maurice, his voice trembling with excitement. "You've seen a crime, what else can you call it? Just last night a man old enough to be your father The old man was beaten until his hair was stained with blood. Isn’t this a crime? What else can it be called a crime?”

"Some might say it's a struggle," McMurdo said, "a conflict of interests between two classes, and it's normal for one side to try to hit the other as much as possible."

"So, when you were at the Freedmen's Convention in Chicago, did you ever think of anything like this?"

"No, I really didn't expect that."

(End of this chapter)